By Patrick Stumpf
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay volleyball team provided its five-member senior class with a memorable send-off in its final home game at the Kress Center on Saturday evening, as it swept UIC in straight sets (25-17, 25-17, 25-19) on Senior Night.
The Phoenix set the tone of the match out of the gate, tallying seven service aces en route to a 25-17 opening set win, which was aided by four Flames service errors on the defensive end. Green Bay continued to put the pressure on the UIC sideline in the second frame after reaching a media timeout ahead by a pair, 15-13, and closed on a 10-4 run to take a two-sets-to-none lead by an identical score line.
A microcosm of the effort head coach Sean Burdette's team displayed occurred on that aforementioned 10-4 run, when the Phoenix dug out three consecutive Flames' attacks, the last of which progressed from seniors Becca Mastey to Emily Riese to sophomore Taylor Totka, who put it down to send the Kress Center crowd into a frenzy.
Green Bay, which did not use a timeout, finished the match just minutes later in fitting fashion, as Riese connected on yet another service ace to clinch the victory.
The Phoenix (16-12, 7-8) had a season-high 13 aces on the night, eclipsing its previous high-water mark on August 28 against Portland (10). It marked the most service aces by a Green Bay team since Nov. 11, 2006, when it had 14 at Butler.
Totka led Green Bay with a team-high 12 kills on a .562 hitting percentage, while Riese added a match-high 28 assists and fellow seniors Jillian Bauer (13 digs) and Mastey (11 digs) were also major contributors.
“It's pretty special to win the last one at home,” said Bauer following the match. “All of us have created a pretty strong bond with each other, especially Emily and I transferring in together. As a whole, it's been a special three years. I think we'll miss each other.”
UIC senior Stephenee Yancy led all players with 15 kills in 24 attempts in what was likely her final game against Green Bay.
About an hour after the match, Green Bay received its best news of the day, as a Youngstown State loss coupled with its win clinched the Phoenix's berth into the Horizon League Tournament for the second time in the past three years. It will mark Burdette's first as a head coach.
UP NEXT
Green Bay will conclude the regular season next Friday against Milwaukee (9-19, 7-8), with first serve from the Klotsche Center scheduled for 4 p.m.
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